Impatiens plant

ABSTRACT

A novel Impatiens variety having variegated foliage, light pink flowers, and a compact plant habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofImpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens, and known by thecultivar name Betsy Ross. The new cultivar was developed by me throughcontrolled breeding by crossing the unpatented cultivar Cheers (seedparent), a cultivar of the U.S. Department of Agriculture withunpatented cultivar number 74-92-13 (pollen parent), a seedling of JamesC. Mikkelsen. Asexual reproduction of terminal or stem cuttings hasshown that the unique features of this new Impatiens are stabilized andare reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Impatiens from bothits parent varieties and other cultivated Impatiens of this type knownand used in the floriculture industry:

1. A short compact plant with very close internodes compared with theseed parent Cheers.

2. The foliage is thicker and larger than Cheers.

3. The flowers are a light pink that fade to nearly white under highlight.

4. The overall texture of the foliage and general appearance of theplant more resembles a Croton than an Impatiens.

5. When placed indoors by a well lighted window, the new cultivar hasbeen known to survive for upwards of 6 months, whereas the cultivarCheers at best will only survive for several weeks.

6. Cutting production from vegetative shoots root in 8 to 10 days. Shootproduction is 50% less than for the cultivar Cheers.

7. The highly variegated foliage is the center of attraction, with theflowers providing a pleasing accent. The central variegation increasesin width under poor light conditions and varies in color from a lightyellow to pale yellow or cream under low levels of light.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof this cultivar, and shows the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of my new Impatiens cultivarbased on plants produced under commercial practices at the greenhousesof Mikkelsens, Inc., at Ashtabula, Ohio. Color references are made tothe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significances are used.

Parentage: A controlled cross of the cultivar Cheers as the seed parentpollinated with Mikkelsen seedling number 74-92-13.

Propagation: By tip cuttings.

Time to root.--7-10 days at 20°-21° C summer, 14 days at 20° C winter.

Rooting habit.--Is typical for Impatiens; rapid, dendritic, fibrous andvery abundant in primary and secondary roots.

Plant description:

Form.--A compact, short, vigorous, upright herb.

Habit of growth.--Slow, vigorous, upright, durable.

Foliage description.--Young cuttings during summer propagation areusually all green. As plant matures the terminal foliage becomes highlyvariegated, whorled with up to 14 leaves. Size: Leaves varies dependingon the number of growing shoots in any given unit of space; from 4-5 cm.wide by 10-11 cm. long with petiole up to 5-7 mm long. Shape: Fromelliptical to obovate, tips tend to be revolute, apex acuminate, baseacute. Texture: Highly glabrous, rugose. Margin: Entire, finelyciliolate. Color: Young foliage, top side between 147A and 137A;underside 147B. Mature foliage, top side green outer area 147A, lightinner area from yellow-orange 21C, fading to 8B; under side green outerarea 147B-C, light inner area from yellow orange 21D fading to 8C.Venation: Pinnately.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.--Flowering is considered sparse, occurringprogressively around the whorl of leaves, flowers deteriorate within 2-3days after complete opening.

Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occursthroughout the year.

Flower bud description.--Flower buds are conical and covered with threesepals. A hollow nearly colorless spur emerges from the bottom sepal.

Flowers borne.--Single flowers borne on a near colorless pedical 4-5 cm.long.

Quanity of flowers.--Sparse with 6-8 per whorl of leaves but less thanone per leaf.

Petals.--Top and two bottom petals nearly heart shaped, two side petalsnearly circular with outer edge slightly emarginate. Shape: Side petals50% smaller than other three. Color: Top side in winter when opening,red 52-D, fading to 36C-D; under side 55C-D. Number of petals: Five.Size: Petals 15mm × 20mm., flowers 3-4 cm. in diameter. Slightly curvedcolorless spur 4 cm. lg.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: One in number. Anther shape: Hooded,color white. Pollen color: Cream white. Pistils: Stigma shape: Circular,flat, irregular surface, color green. Style color: Light green. Ovaries:One in number; 2-3 mm. long, before fertilized, color green.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens known by thecultivar name Betsy Ross and particularly characterized as to novelty bythe combined characteristics of compact growth habit with closeinternodes; thick and large foliage which is variegated, having centralportions which varies from light yellow to cream depending on lightconditions; light pink flowers and by its long lasting characteristic.